Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday morning that Chief of Staff George Helmy will leave his role at the end of the month, after more than five years.

“Simply put, you cannot write the history of our Administration without recognizing George’s singular role in leading our team for over four and a half years," Murphy said in a statement.

"From managing our all-of-government response to a once-in-a-century pandemic to driving nearly every single one of our legislative goals to completion, George has put his heart and soul into serving the people of New Jersey.”

Helmy previously served as state director and deputy chief of staff for Sen. Cory Booker and Senator Frank Lautenberg.

In a statement, Helmy called his time with the Murphy administration the “honor of my life” and said that when he started he had “no idea what to expect.”

“From dealing with a global pandemic to negotiating six on-time state budgets, I’ve approached every challenge with gratitude for the trust and confidence that the Governor and First Lady have placed in me,” he said. “I tried to approach every issue we faced by upholding the high moral and ethical standards the Governor set for us and by leading with the same compassion and empathy the Murphys brought to governing every day.”

Murphy will name his successor later this year.